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A fire broke out at a wedding hall in the north of Baghdad, Iraq, on September 27, 2023, killing at least 100 people. The cause of the fire is still under investigation, but officials believe it may have been started by an electrical short circuit.  The fire broke out at around 11:00 p.m. local time, while the wedding was still in progress. Guests said that the fire spread quickly, and that there was chaos as people tried to evacuate the building.  "It was like a nightmare," one witness told a local news station. "People were screaming and running everywhere. I saw people who were badly burned, and others who were unconscious." Firefighters were able to extinguish the fire after about an hour, but not before it had caused significant damage to the wedding hall. The Iraqi government has declared a day of mourning for the victims of the fire. Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi has ordered an investigation into the cause of the fire, and has vowed to bring those respons...

Two suspects accused in the shootout at a Serbian monastery in Kosovo appeared in court on Tuesday, September 26, 2023. The incident, which took place on Sunday, September 24, left three people dead, including a Kosovo police officer.  The suspects, Dusan Maksimovic and Zoran Milosevic, were both charged with participating in a terrorist attack. Maksimovic was remanded in custody for 30 days, while Milosevic was hospitalized for treatment before appearing before a judge. The shootout occurred at the Visoki Decani monastery, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most important religious sites for Serbs in Kosovo. The monastery is located in the northern part of Kosovo, which is predominantly populated by Serbs. According to Kosovo police, the suspects opened fire on a police patrol that was responding to a report of a disturbance at the monastery. The police officer who was killed was identified as Besnik Salihu. The suspects were eventually captured after a gunbattle with pol...

South Korea held its first military parade in a decade on Tuesday, September 26, 2023, to mark Armed Forces Day and showcase its growing military capabilities.  The parade, which took place in the heart of Seoul, featured thousands of troops, tanks, missiles, and other military hardware. It was the largest military parade in South Korean history.  The said parade was attended by South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol, Defense Minister Lee Jong-sup, and other government officials. Also present were hundreds of foreign dignitaries, including US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin. President Yoon Suk-yeol delivered a speech at the parade in which he vowed to build a stronger military to deter aggression from North Korea as he stated," We will continue to strengthen our national defense capabilities to ensure that we can protect ourselves against any threat.'' The parade was met with mixed reactions from the South Korean public. Some people welcomed the display of military strength, ...

Mali's military junta has announced that it will delay the presidential election scheduled for February 2024 for technical reasons.  The junta has not provided a new date for the election, further pushing back the timeline for a return to civilian rule in the West African nation.  The announcement has raised concerns among Malians and the international community about the junta's commitment to democracy and the transition to civilian rule.  The junta took power in August 2020 after overthrowing former President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita . The junta initially promised to hold elections within 18 months, but the timeline has been repeatedly pushed back . The junta has cited technical reasons for the delay, including the adoption of a new constitution in a June 18 referendum . The delay has raised concerns about the junta's commitment to democracy and the transition to civilian rule. The international community has called on the junta to respect the transition process and hold ...

The Indian cricket team won the first gold medal in cricket at the Asian Games 2023, defeating Pakistan in the final by 10 wickets. This is India's first gold medal in cricket at the Asian Games, and their second overall, after winning silver in 2014.  The Indian team was led by captain Rohit Sharma, who was also named the player of the tournament. Sharma scored 310 runs in the tournament, including a century in the final. Other notable performers for India included Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, and Suryakumar Yadav. The Indian team dominated the tournament from the start, winning all of their matches in the group stage and the semifinals. In the final, India won the toss and elected to bat. They got off to a flying start, with Sharma and Rahul scoring a century partnership. Sharma was eventually dismissed for 120 runs, but Rahul went on to score 150 runs. India finished their innings on 350/1, with Kohli contributing 75 runs. Pakistan was set a target of 351 runs to win. They got off to ...